A visit with Mr. X and Tucker #48, Auburn Indiana...1992

[Larry Clark]

I am not sure why the web site address that I pasted in above does not work. I will try again: http://www.garagedlx.com/index_files/Page1413.htm

If it again does not work, you can get to it by going to Google, typing in Gary Sharon Vick Texas. Look for the Mildred Invitational posting (either the second or third post). Look for the Packard car picture- it belongs to Gary. Click it and you will go to the web page with more description about Gary. The picture is of the 2005 event. The postings are for the 2006 event that appears to have been last week-end.

Larry

[Westi nghouse1963]

Okay then,

Gary Vick is still alive apparantly. It seems that I a newbie, bought the KNOWLEDGE/ADVICE of another, lock stock and barrel...and took that as word. My bad.I

Now I feel a touch stupid, and plainly wonder if he will ever know that his former Tucker ownership was is/was still being validated by a big time Tucker enthusiast....who never would have had the opportunities that I have had with a Tucker, had he not been so generous to me so long ago.

Chad

[Larry Clark]

Chad: I have met Gary Vick but do not know him and do not know how to help you directly contact him. However, if you want to contact him, I suggest you send a message to the person who appears to be the key person of Garage Deluxe (the host web site for my previous posting). His name appears to be Greg Riley. His email is at the following web page: http://www.garagedlx.com/index_files/Page371.htm If you paste in your story of Gary Vick on the Tucker web page (http://www.tuckerclub.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=704) he can read it, see what you have said and possibly be motivated to forward it to your Gary Vick. I think Gary would really enjoy reading your story.

Larry

[48tuckerfan]

well,i was at the acd museum two weeks ago. i acted much like chad. except i'm 38! i finally asked a museum worker if they had a tucker there. she said, "i think there used to be one here, but it's not anymore". darn, but it's a great museum anyway. lots of great cars. i was at the auburn auction the next night and they anounce that dean kruse has brought his tucker for display and that it's at gate 7. here i go again, remeber chad again at the acd museum, except i have 180 acres to cover. never found the tucker or gate 7. crap.

[Westi nghouse1963]

48 tuckerfan,

Yeah I have done the ACD thing several times over the last decade or so...post the Tucker saga, and have as of the last time in 04' found it tiring and not as fun as it used to be. There are so many people, and their all crowded around and you can't get anywhere. This I am saying about the Auction site. It's just too much for one day...or even two!

I found that the last time that I was there, talking with the head curator..I believe Marty Sbarge? that the museum had considered purchasing a Tucker for themselves, but feel that with the museum's focus being mostly on Auburn ,Cord , Duesenberg; along with other Indiana marques...that would be totally innappropriate, an out of place. Apparantly he forgot that the L-29 building behind him was specifically set up for cars JUSt like the Tucker 48!

If you want to see one for sure, swing the nose of your car about 130 some miles northward and go to Hickory Corners Michigan to the Gilmore Museum. They have number 47 and Mr. Follis is there, as well as the National tucker archives.

When I lived in Lansing Mi, it was just a nice afternoon stroll on M-43 about 60 some odd miles and I was there. ACD is now farther away for me, being in Ypsilanti Mi, but then again I have the fantastic Miller Motor's (Ypsilanti Heritage Automotive Museum) run by Mr . Jack Miller five blocks my east. he has a MOVIE car there, which from 20 paces looks like an honest to god Tucker.

You can also see #1016 about 30 miles east of me in Dearborn at the Henry Ford Museum. This one paleds in comparison to the Gilmore car, but it's an honest to goodness Tucker nonetheless.


I can promise that you'll see one someday. Just dont be a total idiot like me and sneak a sit in one. If you get caught..you're usually done for. Although on certain days when it's slow at Gilmore...........

In fact I only did this very thing one other time (i.e sneaking a sit in a car). At Gilmore's they "had" a Dover White and Corsican black 1956 Packard Four Hundred Hardtop my other dream car. I snuck under the rope and sat in it while little brother stood guard. If it wasn't for sheer good luck..and brother in crime..I would have been trotted out on my arse from there too.

Im sure by now my picture is hanging in most major museums...with a DO NOT ALLOW ENRTY sign posted in red above it....LOL


Chad

As a post script...I do NOT do this anymore sneaking in cars. It usually isn't any fun and the guilt you feel afterwards doest reap any benefits. You also can get caught asI mentioned previously and be disallowed furhter entry onto grounds. My situations were always unique...or at least long ago when I was younger and paid little more than a passing glance at rules and authority. ANd usually had backup wheil I was being a mischevious little puke.

All in all It's better to just ask. If the museum curator or owner is more than a Tania or Timmy Tightpants they will usually let you do just that...sit in it...if your just upfront about it. That's my policy today. Mr. Jack lets me sit in several things when I ask him....now if he would just get a 1954 Kaiser Manhattan.........

[TuckerCar]

Chad, next time you stop in to see Jack Miller, please ask him what ever came of the frame to Tucker 1018. I believe Lieberman donated it to Jack 5 or 6 years ago. It had the front end of a '66 Olds Toronado welded onto it, but it was supposedly the frame to 1018. Just curious what he ever did with it.

[48tuckerfan]

chad, i have been lucky enough to see a tucker. it was at the my classic car carshow in evansville ind a few years ago. i don't know which number it was. it was dark green. i talked to the owner, a young fella, for about an hour. i think he said he was from chicago. he also said he had another tucker at home.

[TuckerCar]

chad, i have been lucky enough to see a tucker. it was at the my classic car carshow in evansville ind a few years ago. i don't know which number it was. it was dark green. i talked to the owner, a young fella, for about an hour. i think he said he was from chicago. he also said he had another tucker at home.

Sounds like 1006 and Mark. He's from Detroit and no longer owns the car.

[Westi nghouse1963]

I am planning to be home this weekend, so I'll pop down after work on Saturday and ask him just that.....

Besides, It's been a minute since I have been in there...

Chad

[TuckerCar]

This is an old post but it was a good one. I thought I would bump it to the top because there is a two page article on Gary and Sharon Vick in the August 30 issue of Old Cars Weekly. There is a brief mention of Gary selling his Tucker to raise funds to purchase his 1929 Duesenberg Derham Sedan.

As Larry indicated, Mr. Vick is alive and well, although he did suffer a stroke a few years back.

[Westi nghouse1963]

Hi all,

I have NOT been here in quite awhile, and knowing about the coming up Ypsilanti meet of the TACA felt that I should pop back in and see what's new.. Apparantly alot. Car 1049 is restored, and things are buzzing as usual.

I'm glad to see that tho postscript of my story told long ago, brought to my attention that Gary is still alive, albeit suffering a stroke. I still cannot tell any of you personally...at least NOT yet, how wonderful it was to ride in 1048.

I'm PRAYING that there will be at least ONE running example this year, as the one in the Henry ford doesn't count in my book. It's frozen in their Car's thru the Years highway. You can touch it, but they look at you sternly if your caught.

I guess after all this time the post REALLY will get bumped....LOL


Thanks Everyone for allowing me to tell my Tucker history. this is one darned good site!!!


Chad M. Schieberl
Ann arbor Michigan.....

[TuckerCar]

Hmmm.... Will there be a running example of a freshly restored Tucker that no one has seen before at this year's Ypsilanti Convention?? I guess you'll have to attend to find out!

[ncc1968]

I can drive Cords anytime I want, but have only seen 1 Tucker in person - what a treat you had.

[Westi nghouse1963]

Well,

I have never driven a Cord. However, after many years of studying how the Bendix "Electric Hand" works for shifting the Tucker....I think I got a fairly good idea how to drive a Cord. Besides the fact that Cord's I've heard aren't the easiset thing to steer, at least the L-29's, and you have to strong arm them. I'm unsure of this information being correct but I have my suspicions.

My family had a 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado , not a deluxe, but the standard model that was suprisingly equipped like it was a Deluxe. I remember that the car had massive amounts of understeer, went thru tires relativly fast, and flooring the thing away from the light would pull the wheel quite hard to the left? If I remember correctly. A non-power steered Cord, with manual brakes seems like it would be quite a handful.

I did have a really great experience with Tucker 1048, and tomorrow I'm going to goin to the festivities here in Ypsilanti, and see the Tucker that is here. Chances of me sitting in, riding in or driving it are slim to none and slim just left. Aparantly it's a fully restored example....not a driver like Mr. Vick had his all those years ago.

I'm not a member of course, but Im going to do as much as I'm allowed...and will at least visit the museum down in Depot Town. Maybe I can ask Mr. Miller to intro me to a few people so I can talk Tucker!!!


Thanks for the reply....


Chad Schieberl

[Clem]

This is in reply to "A visit with Mr. X". I find it disturbing that the ACD Museum has so little respect for a Tucker. I can understand with the large number of cars they have in their care that it would be impossible to display every car in the main museum, but to put a valuable vhicle in an unprotected building with the door open and the receptionist saying, "Go around the left side of the building ... and go through the open door."

Here we have a 14 year old running his fingers over very dusty paint. The next step is to open the door and slide behind the wheel. Glancing around and finding no one else in sight, running the knob through all the gears. Next he turns the radio buttons and the cigarette ighter.

It is nice to know that at the Gimore Museum people are not able to get as close as at the ACD Museum.

At one point a Mr. K's Tucker #17 is described. It states "still owned by Mr. K."

I find this hard to believe as #17 was sold at the auction and ended up in Texas. The entire car was sandblasted and dismantled. It sat for quite a few years in a leaking building. It was then taken to Bill Hamlin in California where he spent a year or two putting it back in running order. A Mr. Nicas purchased the car and it was displayed in the San Diego Museum for several years. The car was then purchased by Fred Hunter who did a 100% restoration.

The article says, "I still go to Auburn occasionally and have seen Mr. K's Tucker #17 once or twice." I do not know how one can go to the ACD Museum and see Tucker #17 when it is in our showroom in Colorado.